COMIC capers took hold at two primary schools — as young pupils showed off their creative talents.

They helped produce a sci-fi page turner in French as well as a Gaelic 
tale. 

Paul Bristow, a member of local heritage group Magic Torch, led the project as part of a language initiative in Whinhill and Gourock primaries.

The children came up with their own stories and characters while Paul and illustrators Andy Lee and Mhairi Robertson helped bring their ideas to life.

Paul said: “We were asked to create comics in different languages and chose French and Gaelic.

“It was really good fun and particularly challenging for us because I don’t speak either language.

“But the kids were brilliant and they really enjoyed it.”

The project will now feature on TV, as it was chosen by producers for an episode of Gaelic show De a Nis.

The Gaelic comic was developed from a 19th century song written about a shinty game that took place here between Glasgow and Greenock Highlanders who had moved here before going onto the new world.

The sci-fi comic — called Le Mystere de la Princesse Sorciere — is a fantasy story about a princess who goes into space to rescue her cat.

This story was translated by native French speakers.

The project was run in conjunction with Jan Cannon, principal teacher of languages development at Inverclyde Council.

She said: “The project was initially a literacy one, looking at an innovative way of stimulating children to write creatively through the genre of a comic strip.

Paul uses an ‘ideas machine’ to help children create a character and they also have a visit from an artist to help them draw the characters and set out the cells of the comic.

Whinhill primary seven teacher Andrea Hunter is full of the praise for the project.

She said: “It has encouraged the pupils to create their own comics in English and French and non-readers have been so inspired that it has encouraged them to start reading.”

People can view all the comics online by visiting www.magictorchcomics.co.uk/your-books